Jordan Rankin

Jordan Rankin (born 17 December 1991) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League. He plays at fullback, five-eighth and halfback and previously played for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League, and Hull F.C. in the Super League.

Playing career

Gold Coast

Rankin started the 2008 season playing S. G. Ball for the Titans before he was promoted to the club's National Youth Competition team in June.

At 16 years and 238 days, Rankin became the third youngest player to make their debut in Australian first-grade rugby league after coming off the bench for the Titans against the Newcastle Knights in round 22. Eastern Suburbs player Ray Stehr in 1929 and Wests' Jack Arnold in 1936 are the only two players younger than Rankin on debut. Selected for the Australian Schoolboys side to play touring teams from England and France, Rankin was required to withdraw from the representative team in order to train with the Titans squad ahead of the game.

After his debut, Rankin returned to the club's NYC team, where he would stay for the remainder of the 2008 season. Rankin later said, "I'm not going to say I wasn't thrown in too young but it was an opportunity I took ... that I was given... it is one of those things I have to live with now. Sixteen is obviously, when you look at it now, a bit young."

In August 2008, Rankin re-signed with the Titans on a three-year deal. Rankin didn't add to his NRL game tally in either the 2009 or 2010 seasons, instead playing in the NYC for the Titans. After 2 seasons without a single NRL game, Rankin returned in round 16 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He later said, "I played one game and didn't play for another two years and that dents your confidence. I didn't play my natural game, I played a bit more conservative He played 8 NRL games during the 2011 season.

England

In late 2013 English Super League club Hull F.C. announced the signing of Rankin on a 2-year deal as a direct replacement for outgoing half Daniel Holdsworth. He scored a try on his Super League debut against the Catalans Dragons. Rankin played two Championship matches for English club Doncaster in 2015.

Wests

On 15 September 2015, Rankin signed a 2-year contract to return to the National Rugby League with the Wests Tigers starting in 2016. He played on the wing in the first round match against the New Zealand Warriors, saying, "I wouldn't say it's my debut all over again. I feel like I've got the opportunity now to play as a more experienced first-grade footy player." The next week, he scored his first try for the club against Manly.

Remaining on the wing, Rankin took over the team's goal-kicking duties in round 6. In round 9, he moved to fullback in the second half of the game after an injury to James Tedesco. He was awarded Man of the Match and finished with 2 tries and 7 tackle breaks.

Statistics

(* denotes season still competing)